Self-Management
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3 Strategies for Successful Online Meetings/Interviews: Showing Your Professionalism on Camera
Online meetings and online interviews have become more popular than ever. Since COVID-19, many teams have been turning to online meeting software for meetings and interviews. Mastering the skill of presenting yourself professionally on camera can significantly improve first impressions and enhance interview success. Software Testing: Don't Lose the Battle Before It Starts. A Backup Plan Helps Peace Your Mind Each company has its preferred online meeting software, so you should carry out these 3 checks in advance. Download the specified online meeting software: Don't wait until just before the meeting to realize the other party requires specific software. Update to the latest version: Always make sure your software has been updated. Also, it's wise to have the required online meeting software installed on both your phone and computer as a backup. Have an alternative connection plan: Options like Google Meet, which doesn't need a prior login or even a phone number, are ideal choices. Being well-prepared can show the other party that you are well-prepared and will help ease your anxiety before the meeting or interview. Clothing and Visual Preparation: The Art of Displaying "Professionalism" on Camera Research shows that first impressions are formed within the first 45 seconds of meeting someone. The moment you turn on your camera, you're being evaluated. The following 3 preparations can boost your impression score: Collared shirts are better than collarless, and sleeved tops are preferable to sleeveless. These choices enhance your professional image. If your wardrobe lacks this type of 'work uniform,' investing time in finding one is a good idea, as it will save you the hassle of deciding what to wear before meetings. A clean background is crucial; avoid showing your bed and wardrobe. Even if others know you are working from home, having a bed and wardrobe in the frame can create a 'homely' feel, which should be avoided. Maintain some distance from the camera. It's best to show your hand gestures during conversation: According to research, 55% of communication is non-verbal. Keeping a distance from the camera and allowing your hand movements to be seen can help express your message precisely. Furthermore, You can rehearse with trusted friends before the meeting or interview and record it, allowing you to identify any blind spots and optimize your on-camera image. Avoid Noise for Smooth Communication Once the meeting or interview kicks off, unexpected noises can mess up the communication quality and others' first impressions of you. The following 3 tips can help prevent noise interruption. Mute your phone and turn off app notifications: During the meeting, app notifications or personal messages can mess up the conversation quickly, which should be avoided. Use earphones: This ensures that both parties can hear each other clearly. Keep family and pets away from disturbing: Pick a quiet room, close the door, and inform your family in advance to avoid unexpected interruptions. This helps your online session run smoothly and leaves a positive impression. Building trust in the workplace starts with these small details. As mutual trust grows, future collaboration becomes smoother! -- This article is reprinted from：Farry H（article） （This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.） Follow the Digital Nomad Facebook fan page and stay updated with more recent articles on Instagram (＠digital.nomad.press)！
February 5, 2024
7 Habits for Maintaining Efficiency in Online Meetings
Sometimes, during meetings, everyone engages in casual conversations, leading to prolonged discussions on a matter that take up a lot of time, yet result in little to no progress.Other times, everyone works hard during the meeting, but discussions drag on for too long and lose focus, making meetings a tiring affair. I'm also part of the workforce, facing many internal company administrative meetings, client project meetings, and sometimes even meetings that require negotiation and decision-making. Looking back at my own experiences with various lengthy and efficient meetings, I can contrast the two and perhaps distill seven habits for making meetings more "high-performance" from my own experiences. You might notice that the title of this article borrows from Stephen Covey's classic work "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People." Of course, I'm not a management guru. The seven habits listed here are just from my personal experience, so I also welcome everyone to discuss and share your views. Before the meeting, there is a basic thing that must be done: "Prepare the contents you need to report." If I need to discuss a product with a client, I have to prepare market analysis data. If I need to explain project progress, I have to prepare a work report. Because it's so basic, it's not included in the seven habits below. So, starting from the prepared meeting materials, what else can we do for a high-performance meeting? These habits include actions before, during, and after the meeting.( You can refer to this article from two years ago for more information: How do I conduct efficient meeting discussions with "effective" planning? ) 1. List the Key Issues to Be Confirmed for This Meeting Meetings sometimes accidentally lose focus, with everyone chatting about everything under the sun or discussing whatever comes to mind, eventually straying off-topic and prolonging unnecessary discussion time. Sometimes there is an agenda for the meeting, but sometimes not. Regardless, I always have a habit of listing the key points I want to discuss and the questions I want to confirm for this time. The so-called "list of key issues" is not about reporting data, but about what issues within it really need to be clarified? What are the real highlights worth emphasizing? I usually ask myself, assuming there is little meeting time, assuming it's my turn to speak only at the end with no time left, but what are the key points and questions I must confirm? I need this list whether or not I am the meeting facilitator. If I am the facilitator, having a list of key issues means I know when the discussion is off-topic and can bring the meeting back to the main axis of discussion. If I am just a reporter, having a list of key issues also lets me know how to explain succinctly and what key points I should spend time discussing. 2. Arrange the Discussion Logic for Key Issues Sometimes, meetings can get stuck on certain critical issues, resulting in an endless loop of unresolved discussion. Meetings can feel chaotic, leaving one feeling clueless about the overall structure of the project despite extensive discussion. After listing out the key issues, I adopt another habit: I plan the order and flow of the discussion concerning these key points and questions. I rearrange these key issues and questions logically, starting with the simpler, more straightforward ones before leading into the more complex discussions. I often ask myself, how should I sequentially introduce these points and questions to persuade others? This habit helps build confidence in you during the meeting and eases into difficult topics from simple beginnings, making the whole process smoother. 3. Confirm My Own Answers and Bottom Line for the Questions At times during meetings, when key issues are discussed, everyone might be unsure of the answers or whether certain actions are possible, preventing decision-making and leading to endless discussions. Certainly, there will be challenging decisions to make, but after setting the order of key issues, another habit I have is to think about possible answers to these questions in advance or determine my bottom line for them. If the bottom line is not for me to decide, I will consult with the decision-making manager before the meeting and then proceed to meet with the client. I ask myself, what is my best current answer if no one has a better one for this issue? What is my ultimate bottom line if the other party makes a demand? These first three steps are interconnected; without a prepared list of issues, how would one prepare the bottom-line answers? And once I’ve prepared my own answers, I can respond decisively during the meeting, easily adapt to unexpected situations, adjust, or even overturn previous plans if necessary. 4. Begin by Explaining the Meeting's To-Do List Especially during planning and brainstorming sessions, participants may come with a casual mindset, and the meeting can easily become a mere chat, with no conclusive results achieved. At the beginning of the meeting, if possible, I usually explain the list of key points and questions we aim to discuss - essentially, the logically ordered discussion list from the second habit. I would say, today's meeting will progressively discuss these issues, and then we need to confirm what conclusion? It only requires a brief explanation, possibly less than a minute, but this simple action serves two purposes. Although it might not stop people who love to digress, it gives us a legitimate reason to steer the conversation back, like "Let's return to the next key point I mentioned earlier," and it makes it easier for everyone to accept when the conversation is redirected. 5. Pre-Meeting Note Preparation Of course, we all take meeting notes. However, I have a habit of preparing my meeting notes 'before' the meeting. That is, I note down the list of questions I want to discuss, my answers, and thoughts in advance. Then I proceed to the meeting. What notes should I take during the meeting then? My meeting notes mainly record: What adaptations do I need to make next, and should the subsequent question in the discussion be adjusted? Since I've already noted the main points and answers before the meeting, the notes during the meeting mainly focus on how to make the following part of the meeting more efficient. What did I hear from the other party, and what will be my response or inquiry? How can I adjust the process to facilitate smoother discussion? 6. Confirm All Conclusions at the End When the meeting ends, everyone might remember the latter part of the discussion but forget the earlier parts. At this time, I have the habit of reiterating each issue's conclusion. It doesn't take more than a minute, but it has many benefits. Summarizing the meeting conclusions helps everyone to confirm that there are no issues with each conclusion and gives a quick overall understanding of the meeting. Of course, it is best to email a summary of these conclusions to everyone immediately after the meeting. 7. Discuss the Next Steps for Each Participant A single meeting might discuss an entire project's process, which is a long-term and massive task for everyone involved. However, such meetings might not necessarily kickstart the project's progress immediately after returning to work. So I have one last habit: after explaining all of the meeting's conclusions, I ask everyone, "What are our next steps?" It might be that Esor needs to draft an outline, A needs to prepare a contract, and C needs to send the meeting record to the relevant people and collect feedback. I am accustomed to confirming at the end of the meeting what actions can be "immediately performed" upon returning. If the action is not immediate, a prompt check-in time should be set. With these meeting habits, in my experience, it is easier to create high-efficiency meetings that move faster, end on time, and result in effective actions after the meeting. -- This article is reprinted from：電腦玩物 (article) (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.)
December 7, 2023
Remote Work Socializing: 7 Ways to Never Be an Outsider Again
When I started working remotely, I was alone most of the time, whether working from home or traveling. Except for phone calls or video conferences, I hardly ever spoke to real people throughout the day. As a result, socializing in remote work became something I had to pay close attention to, otherwise, I easily got lonely. As remote work becomes more prevalent, I've also started noticing that more and more people are facing this issue. So, in this article, I will share with you some methods and platforms for remote workers to socialize. This way, even if you don't have colleagues around, you can still make new friends and expand your social network. What Are the Methods for Socializing in Remote Work? 1. Working at a Co-working Space A co-working space is usually a large building rented by a company or group and converted into a workspace suitable for various needs. It includes private offices for different numbers of people and open public spaces. Most of these spaces require a fee, but some offer trial work days for free. For me, a Co-working space has always been an easy place to meet people. You can bring your business cards, and you might just have the chance to meet some impressive individuals and find unexpected collaboration opportunities. To find out if there are any co-working space in your area, you can Google "Co-working Space + your location", or check out the following platforms: WeWork : Suitable for people in the USA or small startups of four or five people. The monthly rent isn't cheap, starting at around $300, but the facilities are luxurious and fully equipped, almost like a second home! Workfrom : One of my favorite websites, where you can select features like "open late" or "quiet". It also allows you to detect the nearest coffee shops or workspaces based on your location. Nomads list : In addition to searching for cafes and workspaces, this platform offers great online networking and chat features, as well as new arrival guidelines for settling in a new country. Meetup : Here, you can find a variety of free and paid events based on personal interests. However, it's not widely used in Taiwan yet. Eventbrite : Similar to Meetup, but with more paid events. It also sells tickets for theater shows and concerts. This platform is more about finding workshops, talks, and courses than social gatherings. 2. Arrange to Work Together in a Café You can find many groups on Facebook like "Taiwanese in the USA", "Taiwanese in Singapore", "Taiwanese Working in France". These groups are a great way to find friends when you are traveling and working and want someone to chat with. Just post in the group stating where you are and how long you'll be there. You might get a response, and then the two of you can quickly arrange to meet at a café to chat and work together. This is a method I really like. Since both parties have already initiated contact online, it's less awkward when meeting in person, and the pressure of making friends is somewhat reduced. 3. Initiate Casual Conversations with People Working in Cafés You can also think of it as a kind of approach. In the United States, people are accustomed to talking to strangers. Just by making small talk, you can quickly learn about each other's work, interests, where they live, etc., greatly increasing the chance of forming a deeper connection. It's even possible to arrange to hang out or work together later. For the shy Taiwanese, this might require a bit of boldness, but it's definitely a method worth trying. If you're unsure how to start, you can discreetly observe what the other person is doing on their computer, what they're holding, or simply take in the surrounding environment. These are all great starting points for quickly engaging in a conversation. 4. Make Friends in Your Field Through Online Groups If you're more interested in making work-related friends, it's best to connect with people in the same field. You can visit specialized professional groups like LinkedIn", "Women Who Code Taipei", "Graphic Designers of LA", "Photographers in Berlin" to find peers in your profession. These groups have already done a first level of filtering, leaving only those related to your work nature and professional field. They are great for finding potential collaborators or clients. Communication tends to be easier and more targeted with these people due to the similarity in field and work nature. 5. CouchSurfing CouchSurfing, literally meaning sleeping on someone's couch while traveling, is a concept often described more elegantly as "staying for a night". There are increasingly more platforms facilitating connections between hosts and travelers. By setting your preferences online, you can find local residents willing to let you stay with them. Most people registered on these platforms are also keen on meeting new friends. Unless your host is very busy and often out for work, you usually have plenty of opportunities to chat with them, share meals, or even visit nearby tourist spots together. This often leads to strong connections, and it's common to stay in touch after a CouchSurfing experience, as both parties have invested meaningful time in each other. 6. Stay in Hostels or Backpackers' Inns When you travel, if you choose not to do CouchSurfing, you will inevitably need to find a place to stay. In this case, affordable youth hostels or backpackers' inns are good choices. You won't be the only traveler there; you might meet many people from Taiwan or from around the world. Just like point three, take the initiative to strike up conversations with others, using the surroundings or what they're doing as conversation starters. This can easily open up connections between people. Even if you're not staying at such places, their lobbies, lounges, dining areas, or workspaces can also be great spots to facilitate chats. If you want to make friends, don't keep yourself locked up in your room. 7. Attend Offline Seminars or Workshops If you're looking to meet friends who enjoy learning, attending offline seminars is definitely the quickest way. Remember, many people stop learning after leaving school, so those who make time in their busy work and daily life to attend offline seminars or workshops likely have a strong desire for self-improvement. If it's a workshop, there might even be group activities, which automatically give you something to talk about with strangers. Working together to complete a task can also quickly warm up your relationship!" Remote Work Socializing Activities in Taiwan We have discussed 6 ways you can try remote socializing, but most are suitable for the USA or places outside Taiwan. If you're a remote worker who only stays in Taiwan, I have compiled 3 especially active methods in Taiwan where you can find many events for socializing. 1. ACCUPASS Accupass is a very famous event ticketing website in Taiwan, as far as I know. The events listed there are both free and paid, with prices varying depending on the scale of the event. From my own experience, there are many free or low-cost events that are rich in content. There's a wide variety of events available all over Taiwan. Accupass has a lot of offline seminars and online courses. If you love learning, prioritizing events here usually won't disappoint. The updates are quick, covering both networking and learning opportunities. (Click here to visit) 2. Facebook event The number of events on Facebook is also noteworthy. You can find all sorts of events there by setting filters for category, location, and time. This allows you to immediately list all the events you might be able to attend. However, a downside of Facebook events is that the information provided is often sparse. You might need to visit the official website or follow the links provided by the organizers for more detailed information and registration methods. From my observation, there are more volunteer activities on Facebook events, which could be a priority if you prefer volunteering. (Click here to visit) 3. Remote Taiwan This is the best remote workers' community in Taiwan that I've seen so far. The group frequently hosts related seminars, shares experiences of remote workers, and discusses the latest trends in remote work. You can interact a lot with everyone there and take the initiative to get to know others. As mentioned in point 4 above, this platform has already filtered through its members for you. It shouldn't be hard to find like-minded individuals who resonate with remote work for networking. The rest is up to how you engage in conversation. (Click here to visit ) Your Part in Remote Work Socializing Currently, my main method is still working in coffee shops. I've met many people in cafes, some of whom I had great conversations with but never saw again; and others with whom I only spoke for a few minutes, but we exchanged phone numbers and later found we clicked well through messaging. I believe whether or not someone becomes a friend requires the right timing, location, and people. While we can't control timing and location, I think we can at least take responsibility for half of the people aspect. This means we need to take the initiative to connect with others. The other half is out of our control, dependent on whether the other person reciprocates. The key in socializing is to relax and not be too purpose-driven, focusing mainly on "getting to know the other person." I believe there's a direct correlation between human happiness and healthy social interactions. Moderately interacting with others can contribute to your mental and physical well-being. Meeting people from all over the world, and having connections wherever you go, is one of the best aspects of working while traveling. I hope today's sharing has been helpful to you. -- This article is reprinted from：理想生活設計 (article) (This article is translated by the Digital Nomad editor group.)
December 5, 2023